River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-11-10
never had.

ueip leeiiE8. Ne1s KNOWING. Iudl II L cuo7es
l could win him back. am older, know
more of the world than Bess, understand
him a thousand times better than she ever
could; but l am sin honor bound" He
belongs TO Bess, and l resolutely deter
mine 10 forget the lines that have been in
my head all day:
Oh. that 'twere possible, after long grief and
pam,
To feel the arms-of my tried love
Round me once again
It is not possible-at any rate, ne is
Bess' lover, and IL would be highly i'm
proper. Aunt Margaret sticks her head
in and tells me l am radiant" Radiant!
She ought to put on glasses. II was very
polite of her. IL is not weli-bred for aunts
to tell nieces they are frights, and Aunt
Margaret is all manners.
fall again into melanch oi, musing.
am awfully ashamed of IL, and disguised
with myself; but / can't help it. / am
thinking that the gilt is pretty well
rubbed off my piece of gingerbread, and
wondering whether it's worth eating,
when Bess floats in, ready TO so down.
She is radiant, lovely vision in blue
and silver. She throws down her fan
and begins to draw on one of her little
gloves.
katherine, congratulate me; I'm en-
gagged. l had letter from him to-day.
Such letter. Shall read2"
''No, don't. Let me imagine it."
His cousin has taken him into partner
ship. DID l ever tell you he has a rich
cousin in the Wholesale boot and shoe BUSH
ness? And so it's settled; and we are GO
ing to be married at Easter, just as you
said. Wish me joy.
did, though il cost me something, look
ing straight into her bright eyes.
''Mercyl 1t sounds like a benediction.
You certainly ought 10 study for the
stage; YOU have such STACEY way"
We go downstairs together, but that is
the last opportunity have of speaking to
Bess. 1 see Philip Barrymore making his
way toward her, and my only
thought after that is TO keep
out Of his reach for a little longer.
l am a miserable coward, l don't
deny. Like the "Brook," | "make a sud-
den sally" several of them. 81 slip, l
Slide" and in and out l ''wind about"
and fortune smiles, for il is close ON eleven
and we have not vet come face to face. l
have escaped by the skin of my teeth sew
eral times. Once-horrors in one of my
sudden sallies, | plunged head-first into
the middle of Robinson Crusoe's waist
coat. He doubled up like a jackknife,
aud by the time he had recovered | had
vanished
am sitting now ON a little sofa in a
small, dimly-lighted side-room. 1t is SCI
cluded and quiet. l have an ice on my
lap, and Daisy, my companion in exile,
beams on me while | refresh myself after
the chase. The sound of music and laugh
ter comes to US faint, yet sweet. can
see, by craining my neck a little, Bess
and her lover whirling around among the
dancers. Daisy is disposed to become
confidential. He spreads his handkerchief
ON his knees and leans forward, clasping
his hands thereon. l am through with the
few general remarks | had on hand, and
Daisy has said: ''0h," "Ah," and "In-
deed" at the right places.
"Do | strike you, Miss Ford, as being-a
-aw-spoOney?"
"Spoonsy? Not in the least. Why?"
''I'm glad Of il; l am, indeed. l think
an immense lot of your good opinion, and
| know YOU would hate a fellow that
showed he was dead-gone on a girl, you
know"
Daisy was fourishing through his little
speech without help from me. / supposed
he was waiting for chance 70 rave about
Bess, and then | would kindly but firmly
indicate the true state of things to him.
81 spoke to your aunt, and she-she re-
ferred rne to YOU"
Oh she did? Did she expect me TO take
a personal interest in al of Bess' mum srous
suitors: Daisy gave a grasshoppery little
spring toward me, and his pale eyes
frightened. gazed at him compassion
ately.
ITO tell YOU the truth, Miss Ford, Pm
desperately in love Without you haven't
the faintest idea with whom"
mot the faintest," l murmur. Sarcasm
is lost on Daisy.
Il love her for herself alone"
"Very good of you" ] rejoin, thinking
Of Bess' snug little penny.
"Aheml She's worth it, she worth il. /
have taken care that she's well informed
regarding my prospects. Ny grandfather
is old"-
"An old grandfather? How old?"
Daisy glances at me, pauses and re-
sumes:
Il believe she returns my affection, but
until am sure of it, | can not know a mo-
mant's peace"
Every sad, I'm sure. Let me see; who
did you say was your favorite poet: Mill
ton, wasn't it, / dote on Upper, Martin
Farquhar, you know. l call How doth
the little busy beev The gem of the Ian
guage. / hope you agree with me-" l
smiled my sweetest.
II: Oh, certainly! OF course! Love-
", lovely" gasped my companion, star
ing at me.
Silence falls between us for a space.
Finally, Daisy remarks that lie cares very
little for poetry.
''As for literary girls, they are the worst,
with their grammar and spectacles. They
positively scare me. There was one-she
wrote graveyard verses for the Flash
staying at Fox Lake last summer, and l
assure you she made my life miserable"
Daisy spoke feelingly.
''She was pretty, if she did wear Cog
giles, and an awful firt. She was smart
enough, too, you'd never suspect her of
poetry; but she had a way of poking fun
at a fellow, that was"-
"Inexcusa ble." This is throvn away.
"But tell me, Miss Ford, I'm awfully in
love, and want your advice. But the lady
is-welI, peculiar. How shall l break it to
herr"
''Gently, gently, by all MEANS"
"Y-yes, shouldn't naturally care toto
brighten her. She's very much like you,
Miss Ford; what would you say if l pro-
posed to yOu:"
A horrible suspicion seizes hold of me.
Can it be
ayes, YOU are the angel l adore, Miss
Ford, katherine. Tell me, oh, tell me, you
are mine. Forgive my ant of frankness,
and tell me you can auJ do'-
Cant, and don't, and never viii! If
you don't get up of the carpet, and let go
my hand, shall have fit. I'm subject
to fits; feel one coming on now. O-O-O-op
He was gone; he fairly few. l never
wanted to indulge in Mysteries so bad in
my life; but had seen Bess and her lover
steering for our retreat. and the blood
curdling grOan which warned Daisy of my
approaching fit came not a moment too
soon. had barely time to step behind a
convenient curtain and draw its folds into
shape when they were in the room.
Through a tiny loop-hole l beheld Bess
staring blankly about.
THAT girl is a perfect will-o'-the- wisp
for the last few days. Like the Irishmau's
flea-if she will pardon the expression
YOU can put your hand on her and she
isn't there. Pm sure l saw her coming
here with Mr.. Deaue."
"Then she has probably gone with Mr.
Deane," said Mr.. Barrymore, in a matter
Of fact tone.
"Soyou knew a Miss Ford once. Wouldn't
il be odd If your Miss Ford and my